Was digging around in the attic the other day and came across some old 16.5 wheels for a GSXR I've been working on for YEARS (big time back burner project). Does anyone even make 16.5 tires or slicks anymore? Tried searching the WERA site but putting in tire/tires/slicks produces pages & pages of results. Google also didn't really have anything newer than 2012. I figure NO is the answer but thought I'd ask. Thanks!
Maybe Pirelli, but I think they were the pastimes with them available. Dont even bother with them unless you're building a display bike to sit in your mancave. I sold a couple sets of OZ wheel 3-4 years ago because they are pretty much obsolete
I think pretty much all racing orgs have dumped them. MA, MotoGP, BSB, WSBK, JSB are all on 17 inch hoops now. Are you trying to find some to actually use on track or just to functionally display the bike?
michelin and bridgestone make 16.5 supermoto front tires also, but I don't know if they will help him.
I remember getting the last 20 sets or so from Milan back in 2012 and it took like 9 months before they all finally sold. https://www.pirelli.com/tire/us/en/news/2012/10/18/16-5-inch-motorcycle-tires/ And I'm very familiar with the Metzeler 16.5 Supermoto tires and I can conform the construction and compounds are much different from a roadrace tire, but since there are no rears out there it is a mute point. Magnesium wheels do have a service life so you should inspect carefully for cracks etc. Jeff
I went through this a year ago and can assure you there are none left on the planet. That being said after riding on a set then riding on 17s the 16 felt like crap
Lol yeah I had a friend at pirelli run the codes and he strongly advised not to run them but it was still cool you gave them to me
Well, hopefully they can make it onto someone's living room or museum build, or the trash. Any of those is better than on a race bike and someone getting hurt.
Speaking of which, I think I still have an 18" Michelin rear slick. Not rideable, of course, but if you're building a show bike . . .
Thanks to everyone for the responses. I was kind of hoping to be able to run them at the track but that is all but impossible. Might try to figure out a way to mount them to a bicycle - I know I saw a picture of that some years ago. So does anyone have any old tires they want to get rid of? Take up room in my garage instead of yours!
I think I may have an old, new Michelin rear. Display use only. I'd have to look around for it, but if I still have it and you can have it, just cover shipping.
Maybe there's some MotoGP Bridgestones floating around out there in the aether (not likely). They were still being made until what, 2015?
Bridgestone never sold MotoGP tires, and they controlled them like they were made out of gold. So if you wanted to do a independent test with a MotoGP bike you had to pay to have Bridgestone at the test and all the tires went home with Bridgestone afterwards. Jeff
Didn't MotoGP have a season or two where they were running 16" tires? Maybe it was just the fronts....can't recall.
Back in the late 80s yes they did and I think in the 2000s the top class played with 16 fronts again, but was it Michelin or Bridgestone? Then a few years ago Michelin was working with 16" Super moto fronts but I'm not sure if they still are as 16.5s fronts rule the roost nowadays